Can-cooling apparatus.



No. 774,177. I PATENTED NOV. 8.1904. A. E. HOPKINS & 0. S. FELLOWS. CAN COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

No. 774,177. PATENTED NOV.- 8. 1904.

A. E. HOPKINS & 0. s. FELLOWS.

CAN COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION-FILED MAR. 28, 1904. N0 MODEL. ASH-EETS-SHEET 2.

No. 774,177. I PATENTED NOV. 8 1904.

A. E. HOPKINS & O. S. FELLOWS.

OAN COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1904.

NO MODEL. ASHEETS-SHEET 3.

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No. 774,177. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. A. B. HOPKINS & 0. s. FELLOWS.

APPLICATION I'ILIJD MAR. 28, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES.

Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

YORK; SAID HOPKINS ASSIGNOR TO SAID FELLOWS.

CAN-COOLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,177, dated November 8, 1904.

Application filed March 28, 1904. Serial No. 200,333. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, AR'OHIBALD E. H01 KINS and OLIN S. FELLows, citizens of the United States, residing at Middletown, Orange county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Oooling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification sufiicient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to means for cooling the ends of tin cans after they leave the sol: der-bath, and is designed to attain the maximum degree of capacity within the minimum of space and to control the cans positively while on the cooling-table and to insure a preliminary setting or cooling of the solder before the cans come in contact with each other. This we accomplish by, and a distinguishing feature of our invention consists in, feeding the cans onto the rotatable cooling-table circumferentially, where they are spaced atsuitable distances apart to be gradually brought together after the solder has set by a continuous horizontal spiral guide or guard, the convolutions of which bound a spiral path over which cans are forced to pass to a point of discharge approximately at the center of the table.

Our improvements also include certain other features in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed specifically.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of our improved cooling apparatus; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section upon plane of line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. I, a plan taken from the horizontal plane of the under surface of the cooling=table, showing the parts broken away; Fig. 5, a transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, taken upon plane of line 5 5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, taken upon plane of line 6 6, Fig. 4; Fig. 7 a sectional detail of the power-wheel, bracket, &c. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation illustrating the use of means for moistening the under side of the cooling-table; Fig. 9, a plan of the same, taken on the plane of line 9 9, Fig. 8, connecting with the under surface of the cooling-table; Fig. 10, a transverse section, upon an enlarged scale, taken upon plane of line 10 10, Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic View of the top of the cooling-table,

illustrating the spacing and assembling of the cans thereon. Fig. 12 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating a modification.

The cooling-surface consists of the upper side of an annular metallic table T, supported on vertical rollers s s, which are mounted in an annular raceway S, secured to standards S or other suitable stationary support. Rigidly secured to the under side of the annular cooling-table T is an annular rack R, which is T-shaped in cross-section, being formed with peripheral gear-teeth r and with a Vertical annular flange 7", which rests on the aforesaid supporting-rollers s 8. Horizontal rollers s s, mounted on lateral extensions of the raceway S, bear upon the outer peripheral side of the annular flange r to insure the alinement of the rack R and cooling-table T.

Power is applied to the rack by means of a pinion p on the vertical shaft P, to which the power-pulley p is secured. This shaft P is journaled in a bracket 10 secured to the under side of the racewayS or to any other stationary support.

Suspended over the cooling-table T is a stationary horizontally-convoluted rail G, which performs the doublefunction of a guard and a guide to the cans, as hereinafter set forth. This guard and guide rail Gr occupies a horizontal plane parallel to but above the cooling-surface of the table to which it is opposed and' is supported in such position by any suitable means. In the drawings it is shown as secured to the lower ends of a series of suspenders it h, attached to'truss-bars H H, extending at right angles to each other across the cooling-table T, said truss-bars being in turn supported upon elbow-brackets I I, rigidly secured to the under side .of the raceway S, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. L

J represents the end of a'solderbath, solder-saving apparatus, or any other device from which the cans are to be delivered to the cooling-table, j being a concave guiding-surface OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW

projecting over the edge of the cooling-table T and j representing a forwarding belt and pulley. By this or equivalent means the cans are delivered on end in a vertical position to the cooling-table T, where they pass immediately under the control of the rail G, the extreme outer end of which extends to the periphery of the table and in proximity to the forwarding-belt and spring-jawj. From this point the rail winds inward in parallel convolutions to the discharge-opening t in the center of the cooling-table T, where it connects with or merges into the conveyer C, by which the discharged cans are conducted away from the cooler. The conveyer C may be of any desired form or construction and forms no essential part of our invention, which in this respect simply contemplates the discharge of the cooled cans centrally, or approximately so, through the cooling-table T.

The width between the convolutions is adapted to the requirements of the cans to be treated, said convolutions being parallel, or substantially so, and engaging with the vertical sides of the cans to guide and control them in their passage over the surface of the cooling-tableT from the circumference thereof to the central point of discharge, the direction of rotation being such as to effect this result, as indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1, 11, and 12.

In Figs. 1 and 11 the convolutions of the guide and guard rail G are shown as parallel and concentric to the center of the table for more than three-fourths of the circle, the pitch of the parallel eccentric portions being correspondingly steep, whereas in Fig. 12 the parallel convolutions are represented as continuously eccentric to the center of the table, the pitch being distributed evenly. In either case or in the case of any modification intermediate between the two forms shown the result is practically the same, in that the cans, owing to the maximum of surface speed of the table peripherally, are spaced a distance apart the extent of which will be dependent either upon the speed of rotation of the table or the speed of feed, or both, the cans being assembled into actual contact with each other only after they have traveled over sufficient of the coolingsurface of the table T to insure the setting of the solder, so that there can be no danger of their sticking to or marring each other. Accurate results in this respect are of course controlled by regulating the speed of rotation of the cooling-table so as to insure any required degree of preliminary cooling before the cans are drawn into contact as they approach the center of the tablethat is, the time of approach may be so regulated; but in any case the extent of cooling-surface traversed before actual contact between the cans will be the same irrespective of the speed of rotation. The only difference in operation between the forms of convolution shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is that in Fig. 11 the cans willbe stationary on the table for the greater portion of the time, changing rapidly from one concentric to another, whereas in Fig. 12 the cans will advance comparatively slowly, but continuously.

Under ordinary conditions of use radiation may be relied upon to keep the table T sufficiently cool to set the solder on the can ends; but where exceptional speed is desired or where the size and character of the can to be treated require it we dampen the under side of the table automatically by suitable means to reduce the temperature of the table by means of evaporation. For this purpose one or more conical rollers 70, of felt or other absorbent material, may be arranged to bear against the under side of the table, as shown in Fig. 8, the lower portion of the rollers being immersed in a suitable fluid. These rollers should be so formed and proportioned as to admit of the arrangement of their axis in line with the under surface of the table and the center thereof, so that they will roll smoothly circumferentially in contact with the under surface of the table without slip or frictional resistance.

In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings the conical rollers 7 is are shown as suspended in tanks or receptacles Z, which are supported adjustably upon brackets m m, in turn secured, by means which allow of their vertical adjustment, to a stationary support, as one of the standards which support the raceway S. The axles of the rollers rest in bearings 11, formed in the arms n of the rock-levers N, pivotally supported upon the tanks Z, the other arms, 07?, of said rock-levers N being provided with tension devices which tend constantly to force the rollers upward into contact with the under side of the cooling table T. The tension devices shown consist of springs 0 upon threaded studs 0, said springs being interposed between the arms 01, and nuts 0 engaging with the threaded studs 0, so that the springs may be compressed more or less to afiord the required degree of pressure of the rollers against the table.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In tin-can-end-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, and a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to approximately the center thereof.

2. In tin-can-end-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, and a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, for the purpose set forth.

8. In tin-can-end-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, astationary convoluted guide and guard extending IOC ITO

continuously over the surface of said coolingtable from the circumference thereof to an approximately central point of discharge, means for feeding the cans circumferentially to the cooling-table, and means for conducting away the discharged cans.

I. In tin-can-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, means for feeding the cans to the table peripherally, and automatic means for applying a liquid to the under side of said rotatable tablesurface for the purpose set forth.

5. In tin-can-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuousl y from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, means for feeding the cans to the table peripherally, one or more conical rollers of absorbent material arranged radially with relation to the center of the table and in contact with the under surface thereof, and means for moistening said roller or rollers for the purpose set forth.

6. In tin-can-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, means for feeding the cans to the table peripherally, one or more conical rollers of absorbent material arranged radially with relation to the center of the table and in contact with the under side thereof, automatic means arranged to hold the said roller or rollers against the under surface of the table with resilient pressure, and means for mois'tening the said roller or rollers for the purpose described.

7. In tin-can-cooling apparatus, the'combination of a rotatable cooling-table, a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, means for feeding the'cans to the table peripherally, one or more conical rollers of absorbent material arranged radially with relation to the center of the table and in contact with the under side thereof, automatic means for holding the said roller or rollers by resilient pressure against the under surface of said table, means for regulating the degree of resilient pressure thus exerted against the under side of the table, and means for moistening the said roller or rollers, for the purpose set forth.

8. In tin-can-cooling apparatus, the combination of an annular raceway and rollers mounted therein, an annular rack supported on said rollers and integral with an annular metallic cooling-table, said cooling-table, a

and integral with an annular metallic cooling' table, said cooling table, horizontally arranged rollers mounted upon said annular raceway and bearing against said annular T- shaped rack to centralize the same, a drivingpinion engagingsaid annular rack and attached to a power-shaft, a stationary convoluted guide and guard surface extending over said table from the circumference thereof to an approximately central point of discharge, and means for feeding the cans to said table peripherally for the purpose described.

10. In tin-can-cooling apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, a station ary convoluted guard and guide suspended over said table and extending continuously from the circumference to a point of discharge at approximately thecenter thereof,and means for feeding cans to the table peripherally.

11. In tin-can-cooling apparatus the combination of a rotatable cooling-table, a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, suspenders supporting said guide and guard and attached to truss-bars extending across and above said cooling-table, said trussbars, and means for feeding cans to the table peripherally.

12. In tin-cancooling apparatus, the combination of an annular raceway and verticallyarranged rollers mounted therein, an annular T-shaped rack supported upon said rollers and integral with an annular metallic coolingtable, said coolingtable, horizontally arranged rollers mounted upon said annular raceway and bearing against said T-shaped rack, a stationary convoluted guide and guard extending continuously from the circumference of the table to an approximately central point of discharge, suspenders supporting said guide and guard and attached to truss-bars extending across and above said cooling-table, said truss-bars, and means for feeding cans to the table peripherally.

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WVM. IVIIATT; 

